Renfrew County council is calling on the federal government to establish a national laboratory at Chalk River and develop a multi-purpose research reactor to serve Canada for the next 50 years.

Deep River Mayor Ann Aikens initially suggested county council hear from CREATE and she presented the resolution. She is very passionate about not only maintaining, but expanding the operation at Chalk River.

"We have a proud history in Renfrew County as the home of research and development of nuclear energy," she said. "We have the right infrastructure, the right people and a willing community, so county council has to tell the federal and provincial governments that this is important not just to Renfrew County, but Eastern Ontario, all of Ontario and Canada. This is an important part of who we are in Renfrew County and we have to let the government know."

Madawaska Valley Mayor John Hildebrandt thinks the group's concept for a multi-purpose research reactor is fabulous. He believes the federal government has to come to the plate and accept it as a vision for the future.